Partition base



Dec. l1, 1945,4

F. P, TUCKER PARTITION BASE Filed Aug. 2, 1944 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE PARTITIONv BASE Frank Philip Tucker, Little Silver, N. J. Application August 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,664y

(ol. iss-34) Claims.

This invention relates to bulkheads and partitions generally, particularly those of the type known as metal partitions. More especially the invention has to do with the base support for struction to which the panels can be quickly and easily attached and as readily removed, and yet which will form a firm and rugged support for the wall panels. Another object is to provide a base of the above type having simplicity, cheapness and durability and having the appearance of completeness and permanency of construction.

To attain these objects I have devised a construction which in its complete state simulates a usual .baseboard such as is used'with plaster walls, and which is a composite of a iixed channel member and cover plates removably applied thereto which cooperate in supporting the wall panels and at the same time give the structure a nished appearance. It is fabricated from sheet metal and is internally braced to give it the necessary strength.

The xed part of the structure'comprises two properly spaced sheet metal strips with spacers at the top and bottom welded internally thereto, the upper spacer providing a seat for the wall panels. Preferably the spacers will be of channe1 shape and the upper channel will have its edges turned in to provide flanges of the proper width to contact the panels received between them, thus supporting the panels laterally.

The cover plates are removably attached toy these iixed strips in any suitable way, preferably by means of clips on the inner faces of the plates, and these plates also have their upper edges flanged in to provide a second lateral support for the panels, spaced above those of the upper spacer.

If, as is the case in my preferred form, the clips are designed to require a relatively vertical movement of the plates to attach and remove them, the invention contemplates the provision of means to conceal any scratches on the iinish of the panel caused by such vertical movement of the plate flanges over the panel surface. Specifically for this purpose the cover plate may have an extension above the inturned panel supporting flange which also terminates in an inturned flange, so proportioned, however, as not to engage and scratch the panel, the clearance being so slight as not to be obvious. This exten- .sion may be part of a separate, outside plate.

In other words, the cover plate, so-called, may be two plates welded or otherwise secured together, the outer plate being wider than the inner one and both having inturned flanges at their upper edges.

I shall now describe the illustrated embodiment of the invention andpshallthereafter point out my invention in claims.

Fig. l is an isometric view of an end portion of a base structure embodying the invention with the immediately adjacent section of a wall panel shown in place therein, the cover plate being partly broken away on one side;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. l, taken on line 2-2 y thereof; and

. Fig.` 3 is an isometric View of an end of the cover plate.

The wall panel I0 is shown as of a construction that'constitutes the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 547,663 led August 2, 1944, for Partition. Its precise construction is not material, however, to lthis base structure, and the wall panels will be assumed to be hollow, sheet met/al structures of predetermined thickness.

The fixed part ofthe `base structure comprises two metal strips I2 spaced apart somewhat more than the thickness of the panel I0. These strips I2 are joined by spacers at the bottom and near the top which are welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the strips. As shown the spacers are of channel shape. There are two at the bottom numbered I3 and I4, the upper one being inverted. The'top spacer I5 has its top edges turned in to form anges I6 of the right width to receive and contact the panel I0 therebetween. y

At intervals the plates `I2 4are provided with rectangular openings I1, the vpurpose of which is vto receive the clips on the cover plates and to afford access to the space within the base'so as to facilitate the laying of electric cables or the like. The cover plates are shown of the double thickness type, and are the same on both sides of the base. The inner plate I8 has a clip I9 on its inner face for each opening Il and is designed to clip over the bottom edge of the opening when the cover plate is down in nal position, which is the position shown.

The top edges of the xed strips I2 preferably are anged in at the top as shown, these flanges 2I l terminating* short of the panel wall by at least the thickness of the plate I8. The top edges of the plates I8 are anged in and then down so that the downwardly extending flanges 2| enter within the ends of the flanges 20 and bear against the wall panel. In this' way the panel is eiiectively braced against lateral movement.

The plate I8 is so proportioned that its flange engages the ange 20 of the xed strip I2 when the plate is down Vand in place. To apply the plate itisV placed upon the strip that' ity is: tofcover, with the clips 2U in the holesA Il. The plate i's then moved down until stopped by the ange 20, the clips meanwhile engaging.

During this movement, the flanges 2| araiapt to.-

mar the nish of the panel surface.Y Therefore, in the form shown, a second cover plate 22 is used. This is welded or otherwise secured over the plate I8. The two plates have their bottom edges coincident, but the plate 22 extends above the plate I8 and has. its upper edge angedinand down to. provide ilanges 23. similar to il'anges. 2| but... spaced slightlyfrom the. wall' panel..v Therefore the anges. 23.. will not.v scratch the. panel and will serve. to conceal the scratches madev the flanges 2 I.

It is. tobe understood. that, the` cover plat-es I8 and 22. may. beformed as. a single, plate if desired, in which case the 'ange 2l may consti-.tute a separate piece. welded. or otherwise secured to the inner facevr thereof similarly to the. clips I.9.

If. desired thebottom. ofthe spacer I5. may be provided with holes. 2.4 to provide convenient openings for cables. and. tov lighten the construction.v hollow base and up: through the, holes 2.4. and through the hollow panels I0 by removing. the cover plates so as t0. exposethe. Openings I 1. 'I'his may be done without otherwise disturbing. the

. basei or panel structure..

It. will be understood that the invention. may be otherwise embodied andy thatvarious changeswill readily.- occur to those skilled in the art within the spirit. and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed l., The base structure.:l for a metall partition, comprising a pair of side strips spaced to receive the partition therebetween, transverse members joining. said sidestrips. t0 form a.` rigid structure, the bottom of said partition resting. on one of said members anda removable cover plate for eachside strip having a down turned. flange to extend between the. strip and. partition toflock the plate tosaid stripand to gripthe sidesof partition.

2.. A base structure for a. metal partition, comprising' a pairxof. sidey strips-spacedto receive, the partition therebetween having. clip: engaging portions, transverse members joining said sidestrips toffornr a. rigid structure,` the bottom.y or said partition restingy on one ofl said-1 members and a reu movable cover plate for each1 side strip having spaced. upperV andr lowerA flanges for-ming clips to engagel said strip and secure the, cover. plate thereto, at least one of said iianges extending betweenv the strip.- and partition to: grin the. sides of the partition..

3. A. base.structure'foragmetal partition, come prising a pair of sidestripsspaoed to, receive, the

partition therebetween having cli-pv engaging portions,4 transversel members joining saidv side strips to form a rigid structure, the bottom. of said partition resting on one of said membersV and a removable cover plate. forr eachsidestrip having spaced upper andv lower flanges iormingelps'. to engage .said strip and secure the cover plate Cables may thus.. bev strung, through the Y thereto, the upper flange extending over the top of said strip and between the strip and partition to grip the sides of the partition.

4. A base structure for a metal partition, cornprising a pair of side strips spaced to receive the partition therebetween, upper and lower transverse spacing members joining said side strips to form a rigid structure, the upper spacing member forming a seat on which the partition rests,y

a removable coverplate for each side strip having a down turned' il'ange to extend between the strip and partition to lock the plate to said strip and to grip the sides of the partition.

A base structure for a metal partitiongcomprising a pair of side strips spaced to receive the partitiontherebetween, upper and lower transverse spacing members joining said side strips to form a rigid structure, the upper spacing memberforming a seat o-n which the partition rests, inturned flanges. on said side. strips of. awidth to engage` and support the..v sides of thepartition, and a. removable cover plate for each side; strip. having a. down turned ange 11o-extend betweenthestrip and partition to lock the plate to. said strip and to grip the, sides oi thev partition.

6; A. base. structure for a. metal partition, compri'sing a pair of sidevstrips spaced to rreceivethe partition therebetween,v upper and lower spacing members joiningr said side stri-ps to form a rigid structure. the. upper spacing., member forming a seat. on. which. theN partition rests.. and having inturned flangesy of. a1 width to engage. andsupport the sides. of the. partition,. said.v side.. strips having a top inturned ilange spaced fromthe. partition to receive, a clip, and. a removable cover plate for each` side strip having an upper ilange.. extending over said last. flange and downward between said last flange and.v partitionV to form a clip to secure the cover plate4 toy the side strip. andtoV grip. and secure the partitiorry 7; Abase structure for a.v metal partition, coma pair of side strips spacedtd receive. the partition, therebetween, upperY and lower spacing members joining said side; strips totorm a rigid structure, the upper spacing member forming a seat. on which the partition rests.. and having inturned iianges ot a width to. engage and support the. sides ofthe. partition, said side. strips. having. a

top inturned'ange spaced from4 the. partition to receive. a. clip, a removable cover plate for each side. strip having. an. upper flangey extending over said last. flange. and downward between said last ilange. and partition to form a clip to secure the cover plateto the side. strip and to gripv and secure the partition, and an upward extension on said cover plate to, conceal. the partition surface. adjacent. saidV last4 panel.

8.. A. base. structure for metallic partitions, oomprising two spaced, metallic strips joined` bya channeI member adapted to'receive and. support the bottom edge of a wall panel, the strips having .clip engagingportions, and a. removable. cover plate for each. stripy having a..` clip`A onA its.y ace adapted. to.. lock. on: the side strips asthe plates are. appliedv andhaving. at.- its upper: edge. an inturnedflange adapted. to engage. the. wall panel above thechannel member.

9; A. baseistructure. for afmetal partitiomcomplising, a... pair of side strips spaced tol receivethe 4partition therebetween; members .joining lsaidisde strips to form.. a rigid structure, said sidestrips having openings toy re.ceive.clips.and aremovable cover plate..- for each.. side. strip. having clips to enter said.y openings and having top iianges. extending over the top of said side strips and' between the side strips and the partition to secure the cover plate and to grip the partition, said clip and flange being frictionaily engageable by downward movement of said cover plate and being releasable by upward movement thereof.

10. A base structure for a metal partition, comprising a pair of side strips spaced to receive the partition therebetween, members joining said side strips to form 1a rigid structure, said side strips having openings to receive clips, a removable 10 cover plate for each side strip having clips to FRANK PHILIP TUCKER. 

